NOTE TO READERS: This post was written yesterday morning, but not published as my attention span approached zero. Sorry, I'll scroll through it and maybe add a thing r tow, but please excuse any continuity issues.
I wasn't going to blog today, but what the heck... What else am I going to do.
I got an e-mail from Elsie and John Coupland in the Scottish Highlands. They had been up to play at Tain, and made the point that all seemed well with the world on a beautiful day on the golf course. The bride and I had a similar experience yesterday at Fairview, as I played a few holes with just a 6-iron.... The most notable part for us was the shear volume of work on the golf course.... The completion of our massive winter bunker work (also including some drainage work), but also the normal Spring work of cutting grass and rolling greens.
Of course, it's hard to keep the dark thoughts out, in that way it's just like golf itself.
Golf Digest gearhead E. Michael Johnson has this interesting take on things:
How golf clubs are adjusting (and readjusting) to find a role amid coronavirus crisis
He gets off on what to me is a wrong foot:
Like most businesses during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, golf clubs are trying to figure out how to maintain elements of their operation while still protecting the safety of their employees and members. As a board member and a past president of a small private club in Connecticut, I’ve been a part of a series of conversations and decisions that underscore how complicated that balance is, and how quickly things can change.
I'm not looking to be snarky here, as I'm quite happy that he wrote the piece. But the comparison to businesses that support people's live is just so obviously of topic. A member-owned club is quite the different animal, and I've been devoting some thought to the pressures that our Board and President face in trying to maintain golf operations.
After consulting with our staff management team and other clubs in the area, our initial communique last Friday was that the golf course and range would be open and we would have limited dining. The new golf simulator we installed in the clubhouse would be shutdown. Carts would be available (and be heavily sanitized), but in understanding that many members would not feel comfortable riding, we waived the “trail fee” (a charge for walking) that we normally employ on weekend mornings. We encouraged members to take their clubs and shoes with them to reduce the number of “touches.” We told people not to shake hands but rather offer a wave.At the time, this felt appropriate, sensible and safe. It also seemed a reasonable way to allow our members to enjoy the club during what is an unsettling time. Little did we know that less than 24 hours later we would be sending a follow-up note to the membership informing them dining and bar service would be suspended and in the clubhouse, only the locker rooms would be open. In order to keep on some hourly staff, we offered take-out food orders with curbside pickup. Drive out and your order would be placed in your car by a member of the wait staff wearing gloves.
That gets at the tension between keeping everyone safe and recognizing the important role that the club can play for its members. But where do you draw the line? Absolute safety is available only if you shut everything down, and the stewards of our clubs will be under a lot of pressure to ensure safety.... Of course, they're fellow golf addicts, and they know that they need an outlet during this time just as we all do....
Mike has this on the club's policies as of now:
According to the National Club Association, 40 percent of its clubs have indicated moderate modifications as a result of the coronavirus, approximately 25 percent have indicated “a lot” (such as canceling all events) and nearly 20 percent have closed their facilities. Only 1 to 2 percent indicate they have made no modifications. A recent online town hall drew more than 2,000 people to hear experts in the medical and club fields while also collecting data on what many clubs are doing.
No doubt you're asking about the nature of these measures. Mike has specifics on a number of clubs, but this is the one drawing the most notice:
Other clubs have come up with some creative ideas worthy of consideration. Shorehaven Golf Club in Connecticut and Ridgewood Country Club in New Jersey, No. 139 on our last Second 100 Greatest ranking, are taking the additional step of raising cups slightly above the putting surface and deeming any putt to hit the cup as holed to eliminate the need to touch the cup or flagstick.
Egads, have we all gone mad? Of course, if this is what it takes to get our Board to allow us to keep playing, I'd sign on in a heartbeat.
This one, though, has me baffled:
Out west, Haggin Oaks in Sacramento is dealing with a mandate that anyone 65 and older must self-quarantine. According to Ken Morton Jr., 40 percent of his facilities’ staff is in that category, including entire departments like carts and course marshals. Morton says the facilities will shorten retail-store hours to help shift some of its staff in the stores to help cover shifts elsewhere.
Huh? Self-quarantine is for those that might infect others.... Obviously there's a ton of over-reaction to be found, but why not emulate Whole Foods and allocated the first hour of tee times to the elderly?
Geoff play aggregator-in-chief as he's wont to do, including this Martin Dempster encouragement:
It has built-in “social distancing”. Rarely do you ever find yourself crowded or with someone in your face on the golf course. And, of course, the maximum number of players you can have in a group is four.To me, it has to be one of the safest places anyone could be at the moment and, by the sounds of things, the medical experts are of the same opinion. “You’re not in contact with a whole lot of other people,” Dr Catherine Troisi, an infectious disease epidemiologist at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston told golfdigest.com.“Sunlight and other environmental conditions can kill viruses like this, so it is probable that that is true for this novel coronavirus, as well. So I would say in the actual playing of golf, you’re not at much risk.”
Having solved the pin issue, bunker rakes now seem to be the Achilles Heel. ironic, no, since many insufferable purists (such as your humble blogger) have long thought that they're too manicured and easy to play from. Win-win, Baby!
Alistair Tait, however, has done a sudden U-turn:
I won’t be signing the petition even though I sympathise with the sentiments in the petition. I’ve grown increasingly uncomfortable with the idea of going to the golf club despite the fact we only play in four balls and the guys I play with would adhere to government and club guidelines.None of us really knows how this virus works. For all I know, I could be a carrying the virus and could pass it on even if I was practising all the guidelines. The last thing I’d want to do is spread the disease to friends. That risk, however remote, is just not worth it.
I think this is the dilemma we all face, and props to Alistair for taking a stand. Though it's hard to talk through without a sense of duration.
But there's a counter-argument worth considering as well. The concern most of us have is that we're closing the U.S. down in reaction to the virus, but when the marshals sound the all-clear, will anything be left? Restaurants are all closed, but how many do we think will re-open?
I e-mailed our club president the other day on caddies, as a for instance, to let him know that I was willing to take the risk to support our caddies. The point I wanted to make was that, if we send the caddies home, we'll probably never again have a caddie program (or it'll be a shell of its former self). I wanted him to know that to me that's a risk worth assuming, but he of course (as I acknowledged) has hundreds of such opinions to absorb and somehow reconcile. Quite the impossible position for sure.
Brendan Porath makes this good point as well:
Golf may be a lower-risk activity for people looking for a break from total isolation or social distancing. But there is still an element of shared space and public interaction. Most importantly, as the Augusta chairman noted, there are the staffs required to run and maintain a golf course and a clubhouse, whether it be some gaudy private complex or a spartan public shack. As the pandemic evolves and likely escalates in the United States, courses, both public and private, will face the decision of shutting down an outdoor “low-risk” operation.
Of course no one is denying this important fact, but rather are describing our game as relatively safe.
But I am wrong in thinking that this from Augusta National will be widely misunderstood?
“Beginning today, we are taking the necessary steps to curtail our operations so, by the end of this week, the Club will be closed until further notice,” Ridley’s letter states. “We intend to maintain our properties with limited personnel on site, and we will support our many other functions by working remotely where possible. But this is about much more than business continuity. This is about our employees, and the foundation of this decision is built-in upon keeping everyone safe while preserving the financial stability of those we care about most.”
Of course ANGC will close, but that tells the rest of us nothing useful. First and foremost, they were going to close in a very few weeks anyway. Perhaps more importantly, it's a non-resident club at a time when no one is traveling... Duh! Plus, they are no doubt willing and able to pay their employees without a revenue stream, a position with which the rest of the world is unfamiliar.
In Geoff's piece he had a thought which I found a complete misfire:
As parts of the world shut down to stave off the coronavirus spread, there is uncomfortable and all-first world question of whether to play golf?We know the pluses: humans still need fresh air and exercise, they need to get out of the house but not gather in large groups, and they need to do something they love for general sanity purposes.The minuses are largely of perception: does it look wrong? Is it bad to be out gallivanting around the links as thousands are infected, hospitals face a looming crisis and the economy craters? Why should golf course workers be forced to keep going while so many safely stay home?
Geez, Geoff, that's as bad as Mike Bamberger's bit that I called him out on yesterday. As I was walking our course yesterday, the thought as I saw our greens staff is that these guys are relatively lucky. First and foremost, they still have their gigs and are still getting paid. Kind of a biggie, no?
But they also have outdoor jobs when the rest of the world is going stir crazy? But to think the continuance of their employment is somehow unfair to them is pretty out of touch... Do they take risks coming to work? Of course, just like we do foraging for food and toilet paper. But I'm guessing there won't be much voluntary turnover on greens staffs this summer. Anyone care to take that bet?
But can we all at least agree to stop caring how things look? I know, who am I kidding....
Need some frivolity? How about a Leo Boniface trick shot? Don't try this at the swing monitor, kids, though maybe it's good that your swing rooms have all been shut down.
Then there's this lego version of ANGC's 12th hole:
That sound you hear is Frankie Molinari screaming, Too soon." Or is that Brooks?
Manna From Heaven - This is a Friday morning addition, in which I ponder what you need most? Toilet paper security? To be able to hug your grandchild? Alas, this isn't really about you... I just received that which I need most, a corona virus edition of Alan Shipnuck's mailbag. I've only read the first item, but I'm thinking it will take our mind off things:
Which pro golfer is least likely to wash their hands properly? @alexthomascnn
J.B. Holmes.
Is there a backstory here, or just a general impression? I'm more concerned that he's hog the sink with his typical indecisiveness.... And of course he wouldn't have his glove on when it's his turn.
If you had to be quarantined in one clubhouse which one would it be? You have access to all the facilities and can order from any menu. @Flip_Hamburglar
National Golf Links. Incredible views from the back patio, shower heads the size of a manhole cover that produce so much flow you can drown, and when you sit down to dine, instead of a basket of bread they bring you a whole lobster.
Don't forget the mac and cheese and creamed corn....
But, sad news from Planet Scott. For reasons having nothing to do with current events, I found out yesterday that I've probably lost my access to that iconic venue. Le Sigh!.
Just cancelled our buddy trip to Bandon for this Sunday, that we booked 10 months ago. Should I cry for the full day? Or just until my wife and kids gets home and might see me? #askalan @mjcostel27
I’d still be crying! And you should definitely let your wife and kids see a few tears — they need to know just what a big deal this is. My annual dudes trip to Bandon is set for October and I’m already nervous. Can’t even imagine the pain you’re feeling. Hang in there.
We need those events on our horizon to which we can look forward, because w ehave to think w ecan get back to normal after.
#AskAlan Will there be majors and Olympic golf in 2020? @TheTexasSteve
It’s not looking great at the moment. An autumn Masters would be delicious and is probably the most likely of the big events to actually get played, because the infrastructure is already in place and the weather would be nice. But how are we going to cram three more majors and the Games after that? Long Island, Tokyo and England aren’t exactly toasty in November. (San Francisco, though, usually has great weather during the Indian summer in October-November.) But making predictions at this point is folly, because there is so much uncertainty that lies ahead.
Long Island? Umm, Alan, you're supposed to know a little about golf geography, but Winged Foot is actually less favorably situated, not that geography means very much right now.
Alan, what PGA golfer’s game will be affected the most by a prolonged tournament schedule delay? I think anyone nursing injuries will benefit. I will say Bryson because I think his mind works overtime and without the competition it will stress him out. Thanks. #AskAlan @forearmshivers
I fear that Bryson is going to return to work looking like William (The Fridge) Perry. Sungjae is probably the one most negatively affected because he was on such a heater … and has nowhere to live at the moment. Meanwhile, Tiger and Brooks should benefit most from this delayed offseason. Both looked like they were playing hurt and their games were rather raggedy, so they now have time to get healthy and hit the reset button.
The Fridge isn't bad, but it took a pandemic to get Sungjae to take a week off....
#askalan Okay, so this situation is pretty lame overall, but would you agree that it might be a great time to not only reconnect with the family but start teaching the kiddos golf? What is better than being together outside, away from people, getting exercise, enjoying nature?? @JSwinging
Absolutely nothing! I love this idea and you have my full support. Here’s hoping your local courses do the right thing and stay open. We’ve never needed golf more.
I've been thinking through how this might change the game as we play it. For instance, I'm not sure at this point that we'll ever have caddie programs again. Perhaps that's overly pessimistic and I'm certainly expecting incoming, but I've long believed that summer caddying was a great job for young kids. It puts them in contact with successful adults, and the process of making the customer satisfied is a great life lesson....On the other hand, I'm probably going to order push carts for the bride and myself.
Happy Gilmore, Tin Cup, Caddyshack, Greatest Game Ever Played, Bagger Vance…what’s the greatest golf movie out there? What others would you recommend for some bingeing? @GolfLover67
Caddyshack is in a league of its own, but I have to say Tin Cup is my fave. The writing is so clever and the Tour player cameos never fail to amuse. You should definitely check out Follow The Sun, which is certainly cheesy but the Hogan story remains irresistible.
You know what the best golf movie of all time is? Got you, it's a trick question, there isn't one. Oh, Tin Cup is OK, but let's not forget the extent to which Golf Channel used that and the short list of nominees to fill the long dead zones in their programming schedules.
The better question I think is golf reading....this Golf Digest piece offers some suggestions you might consider:
The Match: The Day the Game of Golf Changed Forever
By Mark Frost
A co-creator of the early '90s hit television series Twin Peaks, Frost is also an avid golfer who has written three books on the game. This one recounts a match conjured up when a wealthy businessman, Eddie Lowery (better known for having caddied for Francis Ouimet in the 2010 U.S. Open), who was willing to wager that two amateurs who worked for him, Ken Venturi and Harvie Ward, could beat any two players in the world. Another wealthy man stepped up with Ben Hogan and Byron Nelson and the match took place at the Cypress Point Club.
All three of Frost's books are worth your time, as each uses the subject matter to offer a history of that time in our game. I'd start with The Greatest Game Ever Played, both because it's an earlier inflection point and the more important event.
Also, as much as I enjoyed The Match, I've always had trouble getting past that overwrought subtitle. There were changes afoot in the game and in the world, and Frost cleverly uses this trifle of an event to capture those changes. But this match didn't change anything itself, if for no other reason that only a handful of people knew about it.
Here's one of special import to the bride and me:
A Season in Dornoch: Golf and Life in the Scottish Highlands
By Lorne Rubenstein
An acclaimed Canadian golf writer, Lorne Rubenstein, spent a summer in the village of Dornoch in Northern Scotland, home to the renowned Royal Dornoch Golf Club. This is his account of the golf and the quirky assortment of people he encountered, including American Don Greenberg, a former sportswriter (and a former colleague of mine), who at the same time was a member of Royal Dornoch and a caddie there.
Not only did Lorne's book serve as our template for our planned Season in Ballyliffin Crail, But Don Greenberg caddied for me in 2001. Amusingly, he most likely got my bag because they assumed I was that other Scott Simpson.
By David Owen
A list of books a few weeks before the Masters would have been played would be incomplete without a book on the Masters. Hard to beat this one by David Owen, a New Yorker writer and a Golf Digest contributor, who was given access to Augusta National’s archives, a treasure trove unavailable to anyone else.
It will amaze you how little you know about the development of the signature event in our game. In contrast to that Mark frost subtitle, the relative importance that David places on Clifford Roberts is entirely appropriate. The most feared man in golf until has tragic death, but you'll come away with begrudging respect for a far more nuanced man.
This seems perfect for the times:
Dead Solid Perfect
By Dan Jenkins
In these somber times, an infusion of humor is a blessed intrusion, and the late Jenkins has provided it in this timeless fictional account of life on the PGA Tour, culminating with “the 87th Open Championship of the United States Golf Association” at Heavenly Pines. It is bawdy, to be sure, and politically incorrect on many levels (“a good 1-iron shot is about as easy to come by as an understanding wife”), but it is laugh-out-loud funny, even on a 10th reading.
Dan Jenkins? Hell Yeah!
A decent list, to which I would add Tommy's Honour, covering the beginning of professional golf in Scotland in the back half of the nineteenth century.
Speaking of the ‘89 Masters [which you commented on for Golf.com’s Pod Unlike Any Other], where does the Hoch miss rank as the single worst shot ever? I give it #1 place for greatest golf gaffes. Better than van de Velde. Number 1, baby! @JoeGunterVan de Velde is an unbeatable bit of slapstick, and Hoch’s miss is savage, but I think Doug Sander at the 1970 Open Championship tops them both. He had 3 feet to slay Nicklaus at the Old Course and he blew it! What a nightmare.
Nailed it. That Sanders video is the most painful bit I've watched in golf... that bit where he reaches down to move a loose impediment touches something deep in me, and not in a good way. On the positive side, he's the only professional golfer in recorded history to miss a shortie and not tamp down an imaginary spike mark...
As mere coincidence seems highly improbable, to what do you attribute the serendipitous timing of Rahm and Koepka’s twin repudiations of the PGL? @Lou_TireWorld
Brooks is clearly enjoying his new role as one of golf’s truth tellers. Once Rory staked out his position I’m sure Koepka was quite eager to put himself on the right side of history. And as soon as the two best players in the world said no the PGL was effectively kaput, so the likes of Rahm might as well weigh in, too, because there is no longer any risk in doing so. I love conspiracy theories but I think these players came to their own conclusions, not that it was very hard — the PGL was always a lame idea with untoward financing. I’m glad it will now be going away.
Alan is ignoring that fact that, in a world without professional golf, even Saudis aren't stupid enough to try to start a new league. So, yeah, they asserted their fealty to Ponte Vedra Beach when there was no cost to do so but, then again, Jay's having a bad week:
#askalan Post-covid19, will the world of pro golf be irrevocably different? How? @GolfJoss
I don’t think much will change. We’ll probably see wider corridors from green to tee so players can get around without fans reaching out and touching them. Phil may sign fewer autographs. The big shift will be no more Chainsmokers concerts.
Alan might have gone over the line on milking that concert.... Nah, Jay has it coming.
#AskAlan Was out for a game on Sunday with my boy. Left myself 6-footer for par on the last. As the light from the setting sun wrapped us in its warm embrace, it struck me that it could be the last par putt I ever have. Left it a foot short. Should I snap the putter? @TheSecretDuffer
Haha, I feel your pain. But spare the putter! You’re gonna need it to kill time by putting on the living room carpet while you shelter in place for the next five months.
At least you didn't lay-up like JB...
But what do I do with Alan with crap like this:
If only one male major is allowed to take place in 2020, which should it be?? @jcorrigangolf
The Olympics.
Really...you're picking the event that has a place for Rory Sabbatini but none for Tiger?
Which non-major tournament would you miss the most if it doesn’t get played this year? Related: Which Tour stop needs its tournament the most for local economy? Could make a case for Austin with loss of SXSW, or Quad Cities if Deere doesn’t get played. @jwfickett
I’ll miss the Match Play and New Orleans the most, because I’m a sucker for anything that isn’t 72 holes of stroke play. As for the economic impact, that’s a sad part of this whole deal, because so many communities are going to be negatively impacted. From a pure dollars standpoint, losing the Masters would be devastating to Augusta on an order of magnitude greater than anything another community will feel.
New Orleans and Austin, duh! But are you aware that Olympic Golf is, you know, 72 holes of dreaded stroke play.
The Monday of Masters week Fred Ridley calls you and offers you a spot in the field. If you take it, you’ll forever be remembered as the asshole who shot 130 and ruined a great week for literally everyone… but you get to compete in the Masters. Would you accept? @NaderBaajwa
Not a chance in H-E-double hockey sticks. I wouldn’t even play a practice round or the Par-3 because it would be utterly mortifying to have my game crumble in front of the world.
Then that's what I'll dream of. Alan, until you get off your Olympic hobby horse.
Be safe and have a great weekend.
Scott, could not email you at the aol.com address. Can you send me an email at my 1mwhitehawk address.
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